Top 12 'Contractor-Aisle-Canvas' Hardware Store Supplies to try for Industrial-Chic Art Projects at Home - Goh Ling Yong
There’s a certain magic to the local hardware store. It’s more than just a place for nuts, bolts, and fixing leaky faucets. It’s a cathedral of creation, an emporium of raw potential where every aisle holds the secret ingredients for your next masterpiece. For artists and DIY decorators, the plumbing and electrical sections aren't just for contractors—they're the new art supply aisles. This is the world of "Contractor-Aisle-Canvas," a philosophy that finds beauty in the utilitarian and art in the industrial.
The industrial-chic aesthetic celebrates this very idea. It’s a style defined by raw textures, exposed materials, and a sophisticated, edgy vibe. Think weathered wood, cool concrete, and the warm gleam of aged metal. It's about stripping things down to their essential, functional beauty. But you don’t need a sprawling urban loft to capture this spirit. You just need a little creativity and a willingness to see the hardware store as your personal studio.
Ready to trade your traditional canvas for something with a bit more grit? We’re diving deep into the aisles to uncover the top 12 hardware store supplies that are perfect for your next industrial-chic art project. Let’s get our hands dirty and turn everyday materials into extraordinary home decor.
1. Copper Pipes & Fittings
Walk past the pristine white PVC and head straight for the copper. These pipes and their accompanying fittings (elbows, tees, and caps) are the building blocks of industrial-chic sculpture. Their warm, rosy glow adds a touch of sophisticated warmth that beautifully contrasts with cooler materials like concrete or steel. Over time, copper develops a gorgeous greenish-blue patina, adding a layer of organic, evolving beauty to your art.
For a simple-yet-stunning project, try creating a geometric wall hanging. Use a small pipe cutter (an inexpensive and surprisingly satisfying tool) to cut pipes to various lengths. Connect them with fittings to form triangles, squares, or abstract shapes. You don't need a soldering torch; a strong adhesive like E6000 or a two-part epoxy works perfectly for decorative pieces. You can also build minimalist jewelry stands, air plant holders, or even the frame for a unique hanging mobile.
2. Concrete Mix
The humble bag of concrete mix is perhaps the most versatile and impactful material on this list. It's the cornerstone of the industrial look, offering a cool, brutalist feel that can be shaped into surprisingly elegant forms. The beauty of concrete is in its imperfections—the occasional air bubble or slight color variation tells a story and gives your piece a unique, handmade character.
Start small with projects like coasters or candle holders. You can use simple molds made from silicone bakeware or even plastic food containers. For a touch of glam, press gold leaf into the edges before the concrete fully cures. As you get more comfortable, you can tackle larger projects like minimalist bookends, textured wall panels, or sculptural planters. Pro-tip: To minimize air bubbles and get a smoother finish, gently tap the sides of your mold for a few minutes after pouring.
3. Sheet Metal
Nothing says "industrial" quite like sheet metal. Available in aluminum, galvanized steel, and sometimes copper or brass, these thin sheets are a fantastic canvas for a variety of techniques. They can be used as a backing for other art, or they can be the star of the show themselves. The smooth, reflective surface of new metal offers a sleek, modern look, while distressed or aged metal provides a gritty, historical feel.
A popular project is creating a custom magnetic memo board from a sheet of galvanized steel. For a more artistic approach, try creating a layered abstract piece by cutting different shapes from aluminum sheets with tin snips (always wear thick gloves!) and riveting them together. Want to create an aged, rusted patina on steel? A simple spray of a vinegar, salt, and peroxide solution will accelerate the process, giving you a beautiful, weathered finish in just a few hours.
4. Wire Mesh (Hardware Cloth)
Often found in rolls, wire mesh or "hardware cloth" is a woven grid of metal wire that offers incredible textural possibilities. It can be used to add dimension, create stencils, or act as a sculptural element itself. Its semi-transparent nature allows for beautiful layering effects, casting intricate shadows and adding a sense of industrial delicacy to your work.
Try using a piece of wire mesh as your "canvas." Stretch it over a wooden frame and use it as a base to weave yarn, ribbon, or strips of fabric through. Alternatively, cut and shape the mesh into three-dimensional forms, like boxes or abstract sculptures. For a quick and impactful project, lay the mesh over a canvas or wood panel and use it as a stencil with spray paint to create a repeating grid pattern with a cool, faded effect.
5. Joint Compound
Head over to the paint aisle and grab a tub of drywall joint compound. This thick, plaster-like paste is an artist's secret weapon for creating heavy, dramatic texture on a budget. It's essentially what modern artists use to achieve thick, impasto effects without using gallons of expensive paint. It spreads like frosting, holds its shape as it dries, and can be sanded, painted, or sealed.
On a sturdy wood panel or canvas, apply the compound with a putty knife or a cake spatula. You can create smooth, sweeping gestures or rough, craggy peaks. Use a notched trowel to create uniform lines, or press objects into the wet compound to leave impressions. As I often discuss on the Goh Ling Yong blog, creativity is about using tools in unexpected ways. Once dry, you can paint over it or leave it stark white for a minimalist, architectural look.
6. Nuts, Bolts, and Washers
The bins of loose hardware are a treasure trove for assemblage and mosaic artists. The sheer variety in size, shape, and finish of nuts, bolts, screws, and washers provides an infinite palette of metallic tones and textures. These small, mundane objects can be arranged into intricate patterns or used to add mechanical detail to a larger sculpture.
Create a stunning industrial mandala by meticulously gluing washers and hex nuts in a circular pattern onto a dark-painted wood board. For a more three-dimensional piece, try embedding various hardware pieces into a thick layer of wet concrete or clear epoxy resin. For the truly ambitious, learning to tack weld these small pieces together can open up a whole new world of steampunk-inspired sculptural possibilities.
7. PVC Pipes
While not as glamorous as copper, the affordability and ease of use of PVC pipe make it a fantastic medium for large-scale art. This lightweight plastic can be cut easily with a simple handsaw and can be painted to mimic almost any material, from aged metal to sleek, modern enamel. Its uniform, cylindrical shape is perfect for creating geometric and abstract installations.
One of the most effective PVC projects is a large-scale wall sculpture. Cut pipes of various diameters into short, ring-like sections. Arrange these rings in a tight, honeycomb-like pattern and glue them together, then mount the entire piece on the wall. When painted a single color, like matte black or metallic gold, the play of light and shadow across the circular forms is absolutely captivating. Remember to use a spray primer designed for plastic to ensure your paint job lasts.
8. Metal Chain
Often overlooked, chain is a dynamic artistic element that can introduce movement, line, and a hard-edged grittiness to your work. Available in various sizes, link styles, and finishes (from shiny zinc-plated to rustic black), chain can be used as a hanging mechanism or as the art itself. It can be draped, hung taut, or pooled on a surface.
Create a "rain chain" style wall hanging by connecting different lengths and types of chain to a piece of driftwood or a copper pipe. The varying textures and the way they catch the light create a beautiful, cascading effect. You can also incorporate chain into mixed-media work, draping it across a textured canvas or having it emerge from a plaster sculpture. It's an instant way to add an industrial-grade "drip" to your art.
9. Grout
Similar to joint compound but with a distinctly different texture, grout is another fantastic material for creating dimensional art. Typically used for filling the gaps between tiles, its sandy, cementitious nature is perfect for achieving a rough, stone-like finish. It comes in a variety of colors and can be purchased as a pre-mixed tub or a powder you mix yourself.
Use sanded grout (which contains sand for a grittier texture) to create a "fresco" effect. Trowel a thin layer onto a wood panel, letting it dry partially before scratching designs or lines into the surface. You can also mix acrylic paint into white grout to create custom colors before applying it. The resulting finish is matte, earthy, and incredibly tactile, providing a perfect backdrop for minimalist compositions.
10. Wood Shims
These thin, tapered wedges of wood are incredibly cheap and ridiculously versatile. Primarily used for leveling door frames and windows, shims are perfect for creating geometric wood art with a rustic, reclaimed feel. Their slight variations in thickness and grain add a subtle, organic rhythm to any pattern you create. This is a material that Goh Ling Yong has used to demonstrate how even the simplest supplies can yield stunning results.
The most popular project is creating a chevron or herringbone pattern on a piece of plywood. Simply glue the shims down, alternating their direction. Once the glue is dry, you can use a combination of different wood stains to create a high-contrast, visually complex piece that looks far more expensive than it is. The finished panel can be hung as a standalone piece of art or even used as a headboard.
11. Burlap & Drop Cloths
Step away from the pristine, pre-stretched canvases and consider the raw, utilitarian beauty of textiles from the hardware store. Heavy-duty canvas drop cloths and rustic burlap offer a compelling alternative for painters and mixed-media artists. Their loose weave and natural, earthy tones provide an instant layer of texture and character before you even make your first mark.
You can stretch these materials over a frame just like a traditional canvas. A coat of clear gesso will tighten the weave while preserving the natural color, while a white gesso will provide a more conventional painting surface with underlying texture. Alternatively, embrace the raw quality. Let the paint soak into the unprimed fabric, work with frayed edges, and allow the material's inherent character to become an integral part of your artwork.
12. Epoxy Resin
Found in the adhesives aisle, two-part epoxy resin is the key to achieving a professional, high-gloss, glass-like finish. It can be poured over paintings, embedded objects, or used to create river-style art pieces. While it requires careful measuring and a bit of practice, the stunning results are well worth the effort. It’s perfect for adding a sleek, modern counterpoint to rougher industrial materials.
Try creating a small piece by building a shallow frame and filling it with an arrangement of nuts, bolts, and other metal bits, then pouring clear resin over the top. The resin magnifies the details and locks everything in a glossy, permanent display. You can also pour a clear coat over a concrete coaster or a painted wood panel to give it depth and a durable, water-resistant finish. Pro-tip: a quick pass with a propane torch or a heat gun is the best way to eliminate tiny air bubbles from the surface for a crystal-clear cure.
Your Studio Awaits
The line between "building material" and "art supply" is only as rigid as you allow it to be. Your local hardware store is an endless source of inspiration, filled with textures, shapes, and materials just waiting to be reimagined. The industrial-chic aesthetic is all about celebrating this raw, functional beauty and finding the art in the everyday.
So next time you’re on a hardware run, take a moment. Wander down an aisle you’ve never explored. Pick up a strange-looking fitting, feel the texture of a concrete block, and ask yourself, "What could this become?" The possibilities are truly endless.
Now it's your turn. What hidden gems have you discovered in the hardware store? Share your favorite "Contractor-Aisle-Canvas" supplies and projects in the comments below. We’d love to see what you create
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
Stay updated with the latest posts and insights by following on your favorite platform!